Young people and mental health – where to go for help

Young People and Mental Health – Support in Frome and beyond

Young people and mental health – what support is available? Many young people experience emotional problems, varying from anxiety and depression, to eating disorders and relationship problems. This page aims to provide signposting to support for young people experiencing mental health problems in Frome.

We’ve recently been doing some work in Frome to find out what services are available to young people in the town who might need help and support with anything to do with their mental health. There is lots of information available online, but we thought we’d create this page to try and make it easier for young people to find the help they might need.

Please let us know if there are other services or sources of information we could helpfully include on this page, whether they relate to young people and mental health in general or specific services in Frome.

General support for young people and mental health

Young people and mental health support – online. Free, safe and anonymous online mental health support and counselling for children and young people (up to the age of 19.) Referrals onwards to local services as appropriate.

The Samaritans offer a safe place for people to talk at any time they like, in whatever way suits them best and about whatever is getting to them. It’s free to call them on 116 123 or you can talk to them online.

Drop in clinic for young people who need advice on a range of health issues, open from 3pm – 5pm every Wednesday. Anyone can access the service, even if they aren’t registered at Frome Medical Practice (FMP.) No appointment necessary. More information on services for young people at FMP available here.

For young people aged up to 25 who are living with mental health distress in Mendip, providing a central venue where young people can have one to one targeted mental health support in a warm, safe environment. Appointments only – young people can be refereed by their GP or can self-refer – telephone 01935 474875, email or online via the self-referral form.

We Hear You provides emotional support to people touched by cancer or other life threatening illness, including children and young people. To be seen at WHY contact the We Hear You office to find out more or to make an appointment – phone 01373 455255 or email. Referrals to the service at Frome College or at Selwood Academy are made by staff at the schools.

YMCA Routes Young People’s Drop In Service

The Routes Drop In Centre offers support to young people aged 11-25 on various issues, including those relating to mental health. You can visit Routes at 1a Palmer Street, Frome BA11 1DS or contact Routes here.

CAMHS provide a range of support and treatments for young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Referrals to CAMHS are made by a wide range of agencies and professionals, rather than by a young person in need of support.

Short, medium and long term counselling which is accessible and affordable to all, offering help and support to adults and young people experiencing a range of personal problems, such as depression, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem, bereavement and loss, abuse, self-harm and addiction. Contact Elim Connect for more information.

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people – male and female – under 35 in the UK. Papyrus is the national charity for the prevention of young suicide, delivering awareness and prevention training, provide confidential support and suicide intervention through HOPELineUK, campaign and influence national policy, and empower young people to lead suicide prevention activities in their own communities. Contact Papyrus for more information.

More than 100 children are bereaved of a parent every day in the UK. Winston’s Wish provides professional therapeutic support to support such bereavement in a range of circumstances, including individual, group and residential settings. Help is available in schools, in person, online and over the phone. Winston’s Wish also offer specialist support programmes for children affected by deaths related to murder, manslaughter, suicide or the military community. More information is available here.

Helpful sources of information for young people, their families and friends

Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you give them a try, you may feel happier, more positive and able to get the most from life. These can easily be applied to young people and mental health.

Free information and support for under 25s in the UK. Get advice about sex, relationships, drugs, mental health, money & jobs. Support available online or via free, confidential helpline on 0808 808 4994.

Shelf Help is a collection of self-help books that young people can access on a range of issues, including anxiety, worry, panic, self-esteem and self-harm. GPs and mental health workers can give a ‘prescription’ for these books, as well as or instead of a prescription for medication. You can take your prescription to any Somerset library, and ask a member of staff to find the book for you. Books are available in most libraries in or near the Young Adults section, and may be borrowed by any library members in the same way as any other book. You do not need a prescription.